Early Childhood

Mara Bangura, Early Childhood Director

The Early Childhood Years are critical for developing a sense of pride, community, and self-esteem which are essential building blocks for future learning and success. Our emergent curriculum is grounded in the understanding that all children are naturally curious, capable learners. Rather than imposing discrete blocks of time for teaching specific subjects, we embrace early childhood as a flexible continuum that allows us to adapt classroom activities to student interest. Children learn about themselves and the world around them through investigation and discovery, with open-ended hands-on projects, process-oriented art, dramatic play, and social interaction.

The Foundation of the Early Childhood Program

The Learning Environment

Early Childhood classrooms offer a “just right” space for our youngest learnings. This means flexibility to move about, gravitate to area of interest, and engage in the most immediate, relevant ways. In Transitional Kindergarten, this means fostering a learning environment that promotes a deeper exploration of curriculum and increased autonomy.

Exploration and discovery are part of every day while healthy peer interactions build confidence and community. Regularly changing our environment meets the needs of the most curios children and outside time helps us take advantage of both planned and spontaneous play opportunities.

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The Teacher as “Researcher”

Teachers serve as nurturer, guide, and partner in learning and discovery. Collaboration is facilitated not only among students but also between students and teachers. Teachers are valued for their experience and inspiration—working as co-constructors of knowledge and actively learning alongside their students.

Observation and Documentation

In the early childhood program, teachers are vigilant observers, constantly listening, noting children’s behavior and growth, and adjusting classroom activities to support each child’s needs. Student portfolios demonstrate capabilities in a personal and meaningful way rather than formal written progress reports. The portfolios are composed of photography, video and written notes documenting children’s work and representing their thought process.

Project-Based Approach

Classroom activities include open-ended, in-depth studies of everyday topics. These are child-initiated, active learning experiences, through which children feel ownership of their learning. As such, they become increasingly motivated learners who can grow as individuals and collaborators.

Learn More About our Early Childhood Program

Traditional academic “disciplines” are explored at appropriate developmental levels and driven in large part by student interest and inquiry. But it is never too early to learn! Our youngest learners are introduced to Spanish, music, and physical education right from the start. Process-based visual arts activities ensure plenty of opportunities for self-expression, and the various developmental domains (literacy, math, science, etc.) are woven into the play-based curriculum—providing a solid foundation for the more structured instruction that begins in kindergarten.

Preschool

Preschool is a time for new discoveries. Children are becoming more independent and take pride in their accomplishments—from washing hands to completing a tricky puzzle. Our warm, safe classroom environment supports students’ growing sense of autonomy, while keeping them fully engaged in creative activities throughout the day. A preschool day is all about having fun while also developing a solid foundation for learning.Learn More

Prekindergarten

Prekindergarten children are especially interested in making interpersonal connections as they begin to forge exciting friendships. Throughout each day students are immersed in stimulating hands-on activities, enabling them to learn new skills while socializing with peers. They are also developing longer attention spans and the ability to verbalize their ideas. Learn More

Transitional Kindergarten

Transitional Kindergarten (TK) is a unique program designed for children who are either not quite old enough for kindergarten or just need a little more time before taking the next step.
Transitional Kindergarten blends hands-on learning experiences with more structured, academic activities. These young explorers thrive in a challenging school environment that also supports their social and emotional growth, while building skills and confidence.
Learn More

The Mud Kitchen

Early childhood students at Lesley Ellis explore new territory in a thoughtfully designed outdoor classroom, where getting dirty is not only ok, it’s part of learning. We know that developmental skills are acquired in all different environments, and we have constructed this space for kids to be immersed in a wholly hands-on world, where learning takes place in unimagined ways. Whether making dinner in the mud kitchen, turning over logs to see who’s hiding, creating music with found objects, or experiencing how water falls down a wall, we aim to provide a canvas for imaginative self-expression in this wonderfully creative, unstructured environment.